(CNN) – In the ongoing attempt to reform the nation's immigration system, more Americans find themselves agreeing with Democrats than Republicans, according to a poll released Monday.

The Gallup survey indicated 48% of adults said the Democratic view on immigration – which wasn't specified during questioning – most closely aligned with their own. Thirty-six percent said the Republican stance came closer to their view. Another 17% said they didn't have an opinion or that neither side shared their opinions.
The poll was conducted over a long period of time – from June 13 to July 5. That span included the day when the Senate approved bipartisan immigration reform legislation.

In the battle to overhaul the country's immigration structure, unlikely alliances have formed in Congress, including the bipartisan Gang of 8 that developed the Senate's plan, which passed with votes from both parties last month.

However, in the House, the GOP has appeared divided over a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. After a recent meeting of the GOP caucus, participants described a 50-50 split between those who view such a pathway as necessary to immigration reform and those who view it as amnesty.

Most Republicans agree that increasing border security is a top priority, and in the Senate-approved bill, major efforts to ramp up resources on the border were included as a prerequisite to a pathway to citizenship.

Overall, more Democratic lawmakers have voiced support for passing some kind of comprehensive immigration reform legislation, while some Republicans say a piece-by-piece approach is more suitable.

In the poll, non-Hispanic whites were split between the Democratic and Republican views on immigration, while blacks and Hispanics supported the Democratic stance by large majorities.

The poll was conducted by telephone from June 13-July 5, with 4,373 adults nationwide questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error was plus or minus two percentage points.

The GOP will be out of power after midterms in 2014 and their vote rigging can't save them . If they lose any seats out side the red states they lose the majority. All we have to do is show up and vote. Lets get rid of these GOP incompetent losers!!!!!

July 15, 2013 10:17 am at 10:17 am |

Harry

No we do not. Illegal is illegal and they should NOT be given a free pass. Deport them all.

July 15, 2013 10:21 am at 10:21 am |

Buddy D

Who are you asking? The illegals and the anchor babies?

July 15, 2013 10:21 am at 10:21 am |

Jim

There is no point in talking about immigration reform at all, until the border has been secured.

July 15, 2013 10:23 am at 10:23 am |

Leslie

I guess the numbers depend on who you are counting as 'Americans' – citizens? Including those who've paid the price to come here legally, or all inhabitants, here legally or not?

July 15, 2013 10:24 am at 10:24 am |

Manuel J.

Firstly, many of my relatives immigrated from Mexico LEGALLY, as did my mother and father-in-law from the Netherlands after WWII. Last, I'm an American of Mexican decent.

MY immigrant relatives feel as I do. We have empathy for the Dreamers. As for the other illegals, they should be allowed no more than a work permit. Allowing citizenship for bad behavior is immoral and unjust to ALL LEGAL immigrants who did things the right way.

July 15, 2013 10:24 am at 10:24 am |

JF Spurlock

"Poll: More Americans align with Democrats on immigration"

WHAT A CROCK!
Sure they do, if you only Poll people in Boston...

Try running that survey in Texas (and don't include the opinions of illegal aliens), see the results then.

July 15, 2013 10:25 am at 10:25 am |

Joe Murphy

I'm a life long Democrat and couldn't disagree more with this job-killing, middle-class taxing, misguided legislation. Furthermore, I haven't met another Dem who supports it. The prevailing sentiment is that immigrants of every stripe are welcome if they come through the front door, illegals however, should not be rewarded.

July 15, 2013 10:26 am at 10:26 am |

John Faux

How does this poll help anything if the public wasn't asked about specifics? It assumes that the average american follows debates closely... Newsflash.. it does not! Most Americans probably couldn't identify the majority party in the house and senate.

July 15, 2013 10:26 am at 10:26 am |

Politics Above The Law - BAD

No amnesty for illegals! Do not change the law for votes. That is the quickest way to become a banana repubilc. Do not codone the actions of those who do not repsect the law. There are way too many illegal immigrants in this country! Is this a country of laws OR selective law enforcement? If its the latter – lets get rid of the Income Tax Law! I don't want it enforced !!!!!!

July 15, 2013 10:27 am at 10:27 am |

Scott T

Don't believe the main stream media hype. The vast majority of Americans oppose illegal immigration and measures that exacerbate it.

July 15, 2013 10:27 am at 10:27 am |

Wordsmatter

"Most Americans!?" 46%?!? That's a biased stretch at best

July 15, 2013 10:34 am at 10:34 am |

splassher6

sounds really scientific...

July 15, 2013 10:39 am at 10:39 am |

Guess

Gop could not care less about polls, only superpac money, citizens united, funny, thats about the one piece of legislation we all agree is bad,, yet, there it is, nice name too huh?right to work, voting act laws coming meant to restict minority vote will have an equally offensive name im sure

July 15, 2013 10:41 am at 10:41 am |

Guess

How about "voter integrity act" or," voter protection act"

July 15, 2013 10:43 am at 10:43 am |

TransitDave

SSSOOOO..........More Americans agree with the democrat view of Immigration, even though the differences weren't specified.......This is a non-substanative, sound byte poll, one conducted for citation in DNC press releases, and news outlets like CNN, quite obviously.........In other news, 47% of Americans like free stuff from the government, which translates into: Another supportive propaganda blub for the Democratic view of the role of government. No news here.

July 15, 2013 10:46 am at 10:46 am |

Don

When the GOP was deciding how to re-invent part of themselves they should have picked the gay community. It would have no effect on border security, or worries about job availability given a new influx of people, etc. Simply one statement and you open yourself not to just 10% of the population that thinks you want to see them burn but you'd also win over a much larger portion of the youth vote for simply showing tolerance and open mindedness....whether you believe it or agree with it – that's a major quality youth want to see in representation.

July 15, 2013 10:47 am at 10:47 am |

robert

The term amnesty does not appear in the bill. But of the synonyms for amnesty (forgive, remit, condone, forgive, excuse), forgiveness is mentioned; on page 495.
“Loan forgiveness: The Director may expend funds from the Account for
purposes of loan forgiveness or repayment of student loans which led to a low-income student obtaining a degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or other high demand fields.”

I am troubled that a criminal would be forgiven for a student loan when such forgiveness will not be extended to students who came here legally or who were born here.

July 15, 2013 10:47 am at 10:47 am |

Kevin

Why would CNN even run this story? just take the quote from the 2nd paragraph
" 48% of adults said the Democratic view on immigration – which wasn't specified during questioning"
So basically 48% agreed on the Dems plan without knowing it, must be the same folks that aligned themselves with the president even though they didn't know what he was really about either.

July 15, 2013 10:50 am at 10:50 am |

dnokc

Was this before or after George Zimmerman was labeled Latino/American?

July 15, 2013 10:51 am at 10:51 am |

Ed1

Not me and I am a Democrat they all need to go home and come in the front door like the millions before them.

July 15, 2013 10:52 am at 10:52 am |

Guess

Well, im on the no citizenship side, they knew the risk of deportation, and knew they were breaking the law. i did my time, can you erase my crimes? would they? heck no, too bad a crime is a crime. where do you draw the line? how long before they want to redraw it again?, and again?. the gop is pure evil, but there curently is a path to citizenship, if you have something to offer, fine, we have enough charity cases here already that we dont take care of. our government runs on taxes. the less they pay, the more i have to, just like my health insurance premiums, just tired of it.

July 15, 2013 10:54 am at 10:54 am |

chriskof

Just because people like something doesn't mean that its good. People like not having to pay taxes. People like eating at McDonalds. And with laws and regulations, people don't really know what they like and don't like until its well past the point of implementation. This poll only says people think they like what the politicians are saying. The politicians rarely even really know what the legislation says (aka Obamacare), and they certainly don't know what the impact of the legislation truly is until well after it has been implemented.

I am not saying the immigration proposed legislation is good or bad, just that the public's opinion, while nice to measure, surely isn't an endorsement anybody should care about. Believe me, the typical American isn't even aware of what the legislation really says – again, only what the politicians are telling them it says.